Vinton-Shellsburg bowler Tori Richart finds the right fit

Tori Richart got off on the wrong foot early in Vinton-Shellsburg’s state qualifying baker games.

Literally.

“She (Richart) had to overcome a lot,” Vinton-Shellsburg Coach Amber Pattee said. “We bowled bakers first, and she goes out there and couldn't slide at all.

“She was sticking. She was going onto the lane and not just fouling, but literally taking multiple steps onto the lane because she was sticking that bad.”

Resulting pinfall does not count after a shot in which a part of a player’s body encroaches or goes over the foul line — meaning Richart had to make an adjustment quickly to avoid scoring zeros for her team.

“I brushed my shoe a little bit to see if that would help, and it really didn't,” Richart said. “I even changed out my slide, but that wouldn't work either.

“I ended up switching to a house shoe on my left foot, so that way I would at least slide a little bit.”

It worked.

Richart and the Vikings finished first at last Monday’s Class 1A state qualifier in Ames — resulting in Vinton-Shellsburg’s fourth consecutive appearance at state.

“She had to alter her movements and make a lot of adjustments just to be able to throw the shot that she wanted,” Pattee said. “She overcame so much in the beginning. And then came out on top of everybody.”

Following the team bakers, Richart put on a superb individual performance throwing a 585 three-game series and earning a spot at state for the second straight year.

“I was really proud of myself, and I know I've been working hard all season and that I deserved it,” Richart said. “But I was stressed going into it just because of the whole shoe thing.”

Teammates Samantha Lundvall and Kylee Kirchner also qualified for state as individuals with rounds of 565 and 551, respectively.

“I'm really proud of Sammy for making it — she's really stepped up this year,” Richart said. “And with Kylie, I've been watching her bowl and become better since as long as I can remember.

“I guess you can't have one of us without the other.”

The Vikings will bowl at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Cadillac XBC in Waterloo.

Individual competition begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday for Richart, Lundvall and Kirchner — also at Cadillac XBC.

“There's going be challenges to come, so we're still working hard and really pushing ourselves,” Richart said. “We have to keep our spirits high and really have that chemistry — just lift each other up and keep on trucking.

“As long as we bowl our hearts out, we'll be proud.”